News for Restaurants in Los Angeles August 2013 Archive

Get news for restaurants in Los Angeles. Learn more about what's going on in your dining community. From chefs to new restaurants, you'll get the most out of Los Angeles restaurants when you know what's going on.

LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - AUGUST 2013 Archive

OPENINGS

Recently opening in suddenly trendy Atwater Village is Village Tavern, featuring a menu that fuses Mexican and all-American barbecue in dishes like chorizo-spiced pulled pork tacos or smoked barbecued brisket burritos. Also available are beer-battered avocado fries or jalapeño rings to pair with burgers, nachos or wings. About a dozen craft beers rotate on tap, along with 50 in bottles and cans. Dinner Tues.-Sun. Village Tavern, 3218 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039, 323-644-0605.

The dining options at Los Angeles International Airport will significantly improve with the opening of chef Mark Peel's Campanile, which is scheduled for Fall 2013. Los Angeles International Airport, Terminal 4, Los Angeles, CA 90045, no phone.

State Social House made its debut on the Sunset Strip on August 28, 2013, replacing Red Rock Eatery and Isla Cantina. The three-level venue offers a gastropub menu from executive chef Vernon Cárdenas with options like Niman Ranch pork belly tacos. State Social House, 8782 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 310-657-8100.

The Pasadena location of Coolhaus debuted in Old Pasadena August 2 --- National Ice Cream Sandwich Day. The innovative ice cream truck, which previously morphed into a brick-and-mortar establishment in Culver City, expands to the Rose City with its famous skyscraper-style ice cream sandwiches, shakes and exotic ice creams like fried chicken and waffles, Guinness chip, and mango-saffron sorbet. Open daily. Coolhaus, 59 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91105, 626-486-2700.

Eric Greenspan is opening Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese next to his restaurant The Foundry (which is still under renovations) this fall. The casual eatery, designed by Spacecraft, will feature a long counter, and guests can expect a menu of highly inventive grilled cheese creations. Greenspan's Grilled Cheese, 7465 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036, no phone.

Lou Amdur (Lou) has partnered with Jessica Koslow of Sqirl to open Lou’s Wine and Provisions annexed right next door, and sharing an adjoining kitchen that will produce artisan charcuterie and pickles, in addition to Koslow’s cult-favorite jams. Amdur’s market will also offer breads, cheeses and exotic canned items, along with an affordable selection of wines all under $25. Breakfast & Lunch daily. Lou’s Wine and Provisions, 720 North Virgil Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029, 213-394-6526.

Restaurateur Bill Chait (Rivera, Bestia) and chef Walter Manzke (Bastide, Church & State, Petty Cash Taqueria) will open their new bistro Republique in the former Campanile space in winter 2013. Manzke also plans to open a bakery-cafe with his pastry chef wife in the connected storefront, which was Nancy Silverton’s original flagship La Brea Bakery. Republique, 624 S La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036, no phone.

Three’s a charm for chef Josef Centeno (Baco Mercat, Bar Ama), who’s about to open a third eatery downtown. Orsa & Winston will debut in the fall next to Centeno’s Tex-Mex Bar Ama, with a menu featuring Italian small plates. Orsa & Winston, 122 West 4th St., Los Angeles, CA 90013, no phone.

In September, Pasadena will welcome Grist & Toll, L.A.’s first “urban flour mill,” a venture of Marti Noxon and Sweet Butter pastry chef Nan Kohler. Locally sourced grains will be ground on site and sold to area restaurants and bakeries. Retail customers are also welcome to pick up small-batch flour and freshly baked bread. The actual mill is being imported from Austria. Grist & Toll, 990 S. Arroyo Pkwy., Pasadena, CA 91105, no phone.

Downtown L.A.’s new cocktail and dining experience Ebanos Crossing is serving up handcrafted spirit-focused libations created by mixologist and beverage director Philip Ward (co-owner of Mayahuel in New York.) The bar/restaurant spotlights the spirits encountered on smugglers' routes forged during the '20s and '30s along the South-central Texas crossing from Mexico to the United States, with signature cocktails like the “Bear Flag Revolt” with rye whiskey, mezcal, cocchi torino and Benedictine, among other ingredients ($12). Culinary offerings highlighting the epicurean identity of the region feature baked oysters with habanero lime butter and adobo sauce; medianoche sliders with braised pork, black forest ham, smoked gouda and maple mustard; and paella with mussels, clams, shrimp, chorizo and jasmine rice. Dinner Tues.-Sat. Ebanos Crossing, 200 S. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213-935-8829.

The former Manhattan Beach space of Mr. Cecil's California Ribs will be transformed into The Rockefeller. This second branch of the Hermosa Beach gastropub is scheduled for a Fall 2013 opening. The Rockefeller, 1209 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, no phone.

In the former Xino space in Santa Monica Place, the indoor/outdoor Redwood Grille now perches above the Third Street Promenade. Expect an American menu featuring steaks and burgers, lamb, chicken and fish, as well as other seafood like grilled octopus and a lobster grinder. Lunch & Dinner daily. Redwood Grille, Santa Monica Place, 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-576-0600.

Acabar has taken over the space previously occupied by restaurant Dar Maghreb. This dimly lit restaurant-lounge transports you through a selection of small sharable plates with culinary influences that include Morocco, the French West Indies, Southeast Asia and India, among others. Acabar, 1510 N. Stanley Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90046, 323-876-1400.

Chef Hans Röckenwagner will launch his new sibling of 3 Square Café in Brentwood. The 1,500-square-foot space will feature a bar and a large patio, and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu will be similar to the original Venice location, featuring California salads and burgers, as well as Austrian specialties like goulash with spatzle, chicken schnitzel and wild boar stew. 3 Square Café, 1168 S. Barrington Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90049, no phone.

Ray’s & Stark Bar Launches Los Angeles’ Most Extensive Water MenuRay’s & Stark Bar at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art has launched L.A.’s most extensive water menu, with 20 varietals of water from around the world. Conceptualized by GM Martin Riese, (the world’s foremost certified water sommelier from the German Mineral Water Association) the water menu includes many mineral waters that are rarely found in the United States, featuring an entire page for each varietal, which is complete with tasting notes, mineral content, bottle price and photos. Guests may choose from carefully chosen waters spanning 10 countries, including Badoit from France, Vichy Catalan from Spain, and Riese’s own Beverly Hills 9OH2O. Though each water is available for sale by the bottle, Riese also offers guests a tasting menu for $12. Ray’s & Stark Bar, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036, 323-857-6180.

In West Hollywood, BLT Steak has closed after five years. A new restaurant concept in the space will be announced soon. BLT Steak, 8720 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, no phone.

Chef/owner Michael Young has announced the closing of his restaurant, Ombra Ristorante, in Studio City, following a two-year run. Final service will take place Friday, September 6. Ombra Ristorante, 3737 Cahuenga Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604, 818-985-7337.

Lola's will close its doors after brunch service on September 8, 2013. The West Hollywood spot is known for its selection of martinis. Lola's, 945 N. Fairfax Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90046, 323-654-5652.

Less than a year after opening, 9 Olives at Chaplin House has closed. Chef Kevin O’Connell is reported to be turning the space into a tapas bar and lounge tentatively named Punk’s, set to open in early autumn. 9 Olives at Chaplin House, 8210 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046, no phone.

Discover the top restaurants in Los Angeles for various cuisines and categories like sushi, steakhouses, pizza, happy hours, romantic dining and even gourmet food trucks. Find the best restaurants in LA here!